Golden/Kilfeacle 2-18 Arravale Rovers 1-11
Golden/Kilfeacle, appearing in a first O’Dwyer Steel
West Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship final since 2016, bridged a 27-year gap to bring home the Tony Brennan Cup and claim the title for the third time at Canon Hayes Park, Bansha on Sunday afternoon.
The game turned on a hard-worked goal by Padraig Dalton in the 11th minute of the second half, after which Golden/Kilfeacle really imposed their authority on the contest, going on to outscore Arravale Rovers by 1-7 to 0-3.
The first half was an even enough affair, with the sides level five times including at the break, 1-7 to 0-10. Golden/Kilfeacle raced into an early lead but Orrin Jones' ninth minute goal tied the game and the remainder of the first half was tit-for-tat. Jones and Ben Currivan were to the fore in the scoring charts. Both sides were tenacious throughout in an attempt to win possession, and the sides were level another four times.
Golden/Kilfeacle upped their game in the second half, limiting Arravale time and space and were really in their faces, led by captain Ben Currivan, Eanna Ormond and Padraig Dalton, as they outscored them 2-8 to 0-4.
The sides were meeting in the final for the first time, with Golden/Kilfeacle having been defeated in the Under 19 A West final two years previously, while Arravale Rovers had been defeated in the Under 19 B West final. The early rain had cleared, though it left underfoot conditions tough.
Golden/Kilfeacle thundered into the game, causing early problems for Arravale Rovers and Ben Currivan pointed twice from placed balls. His first from a '65 had seen Arravale goalie Ben Dudley deny Lee Hayes at the expense of the '65.
Ciaran Byrne soon had their third point and first from open play. Arravale struggled to get to the pitch of the game early on, but Adam Ryan did cause the Golden/Kilfeacle defenders problems, winning a number of frees in the first half. Golden/Kilfeacle deployed an extra man to sit in front of Ryan when Arravale tried to target him.
Orrin Jones got Arravale off the mark with a pointed free but Ben Currivan kept his side's supporters in full voice with two more, after which they led 0-5 to 0-2. Then suddenly the game was level. Ciaran Kelly did all the work out near the sideline before laying off to Orrin Jones for a well-taken goal that was sent low past Jamie Moloney.
Jones and Currivan swapped placed balls, with the sides level for the second time early in the second quarter. Currivan again edged Golden/Kilfeacle in front but Arravale were now finding their way, forcing a number of turnovers. Donnacha Quigley edged them ahead for the first time in the 20th minute but Padraig Dalton restored parity for the fourth time.
Coming up to the break Jones pointed another free and Evan Ryan opened his account. However, Ben Currivan had the last say of the half with two further pointed frees to level the game for the fifth time and that’s the way they went to the dressing rooms at the break, 1-7 to 0-10.
Scores were slow to come by in the first ten minutes after the resumption, as both sides battled hard to stamp their authority on the game. Ben Currivan and Donnacha Quigley traded a point each. The sides were level for the sixth and final time.
A goal was now looking as if it would be a huge score and that’s the way it transpired. Arravale’s first half goal had given them huge impetus but Dalton’s 11th minute goal swung the momentum clearly in Golden/Kilfeacle’s direction. Dalton had to do a lot of work, cutting in from near the sideline, and with the referee allowing him advantage as he got in near goal his effort gave Ben Dudley no chance.
The goal completely changed the game, with Arravale struggling to find any real space from which to work and Golden/Kilfeacle were coming out with numerous turnovers. Early in the final quarter there were still just four points in it but Arravale were getting little change from the Golden/Kilfeacle defence. Jack Bergin, Ben Currivan and Padraig Dalton pushed that out to seven with about ten minutes to play. The win was effectively sealed a minute later when Sam Hall goaled from a tight angle. Golden/Kilfeacle saw it out after that and will now face Thurles Sarsfields or Holycross Ballycahill in the county semi-final.
Scorers:Golden/Kilfeacle: Ben Currivan (0-13, 0-9f, 1 '65), Padraig Dalton (1-2), Sam Hall (1-0), Jack Bergin (0-1), Aaron Colohan (0-1), Ciaran Byrne (0-1).
Arravale Rovers: Orrin Jones (1-6, 0-6f), Donnacha Quigley (0-3), Evan Ryan (0-1), John Paul Lohan (0-1).
Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley, Alex Webster, Peter Ryan, Brendan Delaney, John Paul Lohan, David Ryan, Eoin Doocey, Sean O' Mahony, Jaye Cilvinas, Orrin Jones, Adam Ryan, Evan Ryan, Shane Quigley, Ciaran Kelly, Donnacha Quigley.
Subs: Daniel Ryan for Shane Quigley (45), Oisin Hogan for Evan Ryan (55), Conor O’Donoghue for Eoin Doocey (58), Tom O’Donnell for Ciaran Carey (58).
Golden/Kilfeacle: Jamie Moloney, Aidan Tuohy, Brian Marnane, Cian Lonergan, Padraig Dalton, Ciaran Byrne, Gavin Dalton, Jack Lonergan, Ben Currivan (captain), Jack Bergin, Jason Morey, Aaron Colohan, Eanna Ormond, Sam Hall, Lee Hayes.
Subs: Harry Fogarty for Jason Morey (40), Cian Ryan Madden for Lee Hayes, (48), Colin Tuohy for Padraig Dalton (58), Daniel Queally for Aaron Colohan (60), Kevin Hogan for Eanna Ormond (62).
Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams).
